USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 29
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near the Soldiers Home, and fifty acres on the Union road a half mile north of the Eaton pike. The old Olt homestead, where he now resides and upon which his entire life has been spent, constitutes seventeen acres of land, and it is here that all of his business is conducted.
On September 17, 1889, Mr. Olt was married to Miss Caroline Knecht, a. daughter of Christ and Mary (Geiser) Knecht, the former a butcher by trade. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Olt have been born two children, Mary Frances and Michael, Jr. The daughter is a graduate of Steele high school and has an extensive ac- quaintance among the younger people of Dayton. The son is yet a student of the high school.
The family attend St. John's Lutheran church of Dayton, of which Mr. Olt is a member. He was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and now holds membership in the Masonic Lodge and Humboldt Lodge, K. P. He is likewise a prominent member of the Butchers' Association and has held all of its offices, while he is a stockholder in the First Saving & Banking Company. Public-spirited and progressive, Mr. Olt has never permitted his business inter- ests to exclude him from participation in measures and movements pertaining to the general welfare and upbuilding of the community, and he occupies a high place in the respect and esteem of his fellowmen. The family residence, which was built by Mr. Olt ten years ago, is an up-to-date structure of fourteen rooms equipped with all modern conveniences, and is situated about a mile from Day- ton, so that the family are in a position to enjoy all of the delights of life in the country combined with the conveniences of the city.
LLEWELLYN G. KLEPINGER, M. D.
Dr. Llewellyn G. Klepinger, who is widely recognized as a successful and popular representative of the medical fraternity of Montgomery county, has offices in the Arcade building in Dayton, while his home is on Fairview avenue, just outside the corporation limits of the city. He was born on the 24th of June, 1870, his parents being Henry and Elizabeth (Miller) Klepinger, both of whom still survive and enjoy excellent health. George Klepinger, the paternal grand- father, was the first representative of the name to come to Ohio, making the journey from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Henry Klepinger, the father of our subject, was born on the old Klepinger homestead in Montgomery county and has long been numbered among the most prominent and influential citizens of his community. He holds membership in the German Baptist church and his life has ever been in conformity with its teachings. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, namely: David; George, deceased; Alfred; Ellsworth ; Charles ; Mary, who has also passed away; Llewellyn G., of this review; Edwin ; and Howard.
Llewellyn G. Klepinger obtained his preliminary education in the district schools of Madison township and when not busy with his lessons he worked at farm labor, thus earning enough money to enable him to go to college. For three terms he was a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School and sub-
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sequently was connected with manufacturing interests for about two years. He afterward pursued a course in the Miami Commercial College of Dayton and then, having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, entered the Ohio Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1901. In 1905 he took a special course of study in Chicago and on returning to Dayton opened an office in the Arcade building, where he has remained to the present time. An able and skilled practitioner, his labors have been attended with well merited success and, although still young in years, he has already gained an en- viable reputation as a representative of the medical profession.
On the 15th of October, 1901, Dr. Klepinger was joined in wedlock to Miss Grace Markey, a daughter of Nathaniel and Anna (Wampler) Markey. of Mont- gomery county. By this union there is one child, Paul Markey. The-family at- tend the United Brethren church, while fraternally Dr. Klepinger is identified with the Modern Woodmen. He is a worthy and respected native son of Mont- gomery county and his life has been actuated at all times by high and honorable principles, manifested in his professional labors and in his private life.
WILLIAM F. GLOYD.
A most honorable record of business activity and enterprise has brought Wil- liam F. Gloyd to his present responsible position as president of the American Loan & Savings Association of Dayton. He was born in Sparta, Morrow county, Ohio, July 1, 1835, and is a representative of an old New England family. His father, Isaac Gloyd, and his paternal grandfather were both natives of New Hampshire and the former died about 1837, when thirty-four years of age. Wil- liam F. Gloyd was at that time but two years old. When a youth of fifteen he left his native town for Lima, Ohio, having previously acquired his education in the public schools of Sparta. On his removal to Lima he entered upon his busi- ness career as an apprentice in the foundry and after six months went to Del- phos, Ohio, where he continued until the winter of 1856.
At that date Mr. Gloyd returned to Sparta and in 1857 came to Dayton, where he has now made his home for more than half a century. Throughout this period he has made an unassailable reputation as a reliable, industrious and progressive business man, gradually working his way upward, his responsibilities increasing, while each forward step has also brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunity. On his arrival in this city he secured employment in a foun- dry, where he remained for a number of years, his ability, diligence and faithful- ness securing him promotion from time to time until he had become recognized as a worthy representative of business interests in this city. He was then chosen president of the American Loan & Savings Association in 1876 and for a third of a century has remained at the head of this business, its growth and success being attributable in very large measure to his continued supervision. He has been a close student of financial conditions and is a prominent representative of moneyed interests of this city.
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Mr. Gloyd was married in Dayton, in 1858, to Miss Amanda Swaynie and they have three living children: Gertrude, now the wife of Dr. J. A. Rumspert; E. L .; and F. M. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Gloyd belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his political endorsement is given to the republican party. He has never sought the honors nor emoluments of political office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which, capably directed, have brought him into important relations with the public in the phases of its business activity and advancement.
HARRY E. TALBOTT.
Harry E. Talbott, now president of the Mead Pulp & Paper Company, is also connected with other interests which have bearing upon the industrial develop- ment of Dayton. His birth occurred in Cincinnati in 1860 and his education was acquired in that city. At the age of twenty years he took up the profession of civil engineering and spent six years with the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany in its construction department. He was afterward assistant chief engineer of the construction of the Chicago Belt Line road, one hundred and twenty-five miles in length, a task that required eighteen months for its completion. On the expiration of that period he became assistant chief engineer of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, with which he was connected for three years or until 1892, when he came to Dayton, where he has since made his home. His knowledge of the scientific principles underlying his work well qualifies him for the execution of important contracts and he is, moreover, diligent and persevering in all that he undertakes. He gives his attention to executive control and administrative direction as president of the Mead Pulp & Paper Company, also of the H. E. Talbott Company, engineers and contractors. He has likewise extended his efforts into other fields of activity and is now a director of the Dayton Lighting Company and a director of the City National Bank.
While Mr. Talbott is well known as an energetic business man whose activity is far-reaching, he is to his friends a most social and genial gentleman and is a popular member of the Buz Fuz Club, the Dayton City Club and the Golf Club. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
CHARLES W. RAYMOND.
Charles W. Raymond, whose activities and interests have been directed in commercial, musical and political lines, is the president of the C. W. Raymond Company, incorporated, in which connection he controls a business of substantial worth in the commercial circles of the city. While he has developed a trade of large proportions, however, he has regarded business as but one phase of life and is a participant in other vital interests which go to make up human existence.
CHARLES W. RAYMOND
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Charles Worthington Raymond was born in Dayton, Ohio, January 17, 1851, and in both the paternal and maternal lines represents old families of this state. His father, George McMullen Raymond, was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, and in the '20s wedded Eliza Ann Bonte of that city. They became the parents of five children, three of whom are residents of Indianapolis, Indiana, while Samuel is deceased. The father possessed notable musical ability and was an unusually sweet singer, his gifts in that direction contributing in no small degree to pleasure in social life and to the interest of the church with which he was connected. Dur- ing the early years of his residence in Dayton he belonged to Wesley chapel of the Methodist Episcopal church and afterward became one of the founders of Raper chapel on East Fifth street. He became the first superintendent of its Sunday school, served as such continuously for ten years, and in all lines of church work was active and helpful. He belonged to both the subordinate lodge and encamp- ment of Odd Fellows and was once representative to the grand lodge. He died in Indianapolis, August 16, 1893, having survived his wife for six years.
The public schools of Dayton afforded Charles W. Raymond his educational privileges and on putting aside his text-books he became associated with his father in business, learning the trades of blacksmithing and wagonmaking, his practical knowledge thereof proving a source of much benefit as he advanced in business life. His training gave him an excellent knowledge of mechanical principles that has led to the development of what is today one of the leading productive indus- tries of the city. He soon began giving evidence of inventive genius and also early in his career displayed excellent executive ability, enabling him to readily take advantage of any situation or opportunity. He continued in business with his father in the original lines until 1880, when, under the firm style of G. M. Raymond & Son, they established the present brick machine works and from the beginning the enterprise proved profitable, the trade gradually increasing. When the father wished to retire in 1888 the son purchased his interest and reorgan- ized the business under the name of C. W. Raymond & Company. The firm man- ufactures clay working machinery.
Entering the market with a machine, a reversal of old ideas and an addition of new ones, at a time when the market was ripe for it, he soon reaped the merited reward of his ingenuity and today is at the head of a business which manufactures machinery for the production of building brick, fire brick, pressed and ornamental brick, also brick for the paving of streets and shingles for the roofing of houses. Mr. Raymond's first invention, in 1886, was a machine for pressing terra cotta and ornamental brick, instead of making them by hand as formerly, which in- creased the production of thirty pieces per day to about three thousand pieces per day ; later he invented a power repress for the manufacture of paving bricks, by which ten thousand blocks per day were produced, and still later he invented the Columbian special repress, capable of pressing thirty thousand paving blocks per day, a wonder in this line of work and also the first machine by which plastic clays were handled automatically. These, however, form only a small part of his in- ventions, which followed closely one upon another. It has been his good fortune to design and invent much of the machinery which now goes to make up a mod- ern brick plant. The capacity was formerly ten thousand per day but has been increased to two hundred thousand per day molded automatically. The output
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of the Raymond factory is distributed throughout the world and it takes con- tracts for equipping the largest plants with all necessary machinery, which is set up and guaranteed, and no charge is ever made if inadequate to do all that is claimed for it. This is the only concern of the kind in Dayton and the ingenuity of Mr. Raymond has secured to it almost a monopoly of its peculiar products. Starting in life practically without a dollar, his accumulation of wealth has been a wonder to the community and an example which the younger generation might well emulate. Mr. Raymond is today rated as one of the wealthy men of Dayton. In addition to his manufacturing business, he is a large holder of real estate in Dayton and possesses a plantation of one thousand acres in southern Georgia, which is devoted exclusively to the raising of fruit of various kinds. Upon this place he has eighty thousand peach trees and the plantation is a source of substan- tial profit.
In 1872 Mr. Raymond was united in marriage to Miss Viola Palmer, of Day- ton, and unto them have been born three sons and a daughter: Ellis Palmer, Eliza N., George McMullen and Charles W., Jr. The two surviving sons are connected with the father in business. Ellis Palmer, the eldest, who was also the associate of his father in business and was a musician of more than local note, died at Mount Clemens, Michigan, on the 4th of May, 1905. He was born in Dayton and ac- quired his education in the district and public schools. Endowed by nature with marked musical talent, under the instruction of able teachers he became one of the most proficient organists and choir directors in the city. For many years he served acceptably in Christ's Episcopal and the First Reformed churches of Dayton. He was serving as organist and choir master in the First Reformed church when the growth of the business of the firm of C. W. Raymond & Company made it neces- sary to estblish an eastern branch, which was done in New York city, Ellis P. Raymond, who was the vice president of the company, taking charge of the busi- ness in the metropolis. For four years he remained as manager of that point and from the beginning attained large success. He was a man of rare mental and moral qualities, one into whose life religion came as a sweet fragrance. Of fine self- control, large charity, broad sympathy, from boyhood up to full manhood his charming manner endeared him to all who knew him. He was the exemplification of the possibilities that lie before the upright, industrious and faithful American youth. While in Dayton he was a strong assistant of his father, whose success as a manufacturer is well known. In society his influence was for the welfare of his companions. He was ever careful to so live that none could justly criticise his filling the important position he occupied in the house of God. In the family he was a loving and beloved son, and when a month prior to his death his parents were called to New York city on account of his serious illness, they gave to him every possible attention and used every means that reason could dictate or love inspire for his recovery, but all efforts were in vain and on the 5th of May, 1905, he passed away, leaving behind him the memory of a beautiful life that is en- shrined in the hearts of all who knew him.
The family are prominent socially in the city and the hospitality of the Ray- mond home is most cordial. In his fraternal relations Mr. Raymond is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Wayne Lodge, No. 10. He is also a charter member of Lin- den Lodge, K. P., and a member of the Essenic order. He inherited his father's
ELLIS P. RAYMOND
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love for and talent in music and for many years has been associated with the lead- ing musical societies of the city. In all matters relative to progress and improve- ment Mr. Raymond is interested. As a member of the Board of Trade he co- operated in many measures for the general good relative to the substantial im- provement and municipal welfare of Dayton. He is likewise a gentleman of broad, humanitarian spirit, who for sixteen years has been a trustee of the Montgomery County Children's Home. Neither is he unknown in political circles. He was one of the organizers of the Mckinley Club, which was formed in 1902 and had a membership of over four hundred. It was an important organization in the politi- cal circles of the city and Mr. Raymond was elected its president. A champion of field sports and all manly outdoor exercises of recreative nature, recognizing the value of such as a factor in well developed manhood, his love of fair play, uniform courtesy and pleasant personality have made him popular in amateur and local contests. In a well rounded character it is difficult to point out those traits which are prominent above all others. Seeing Mr. Raymond in musical circles one might imagine his whole life wrapped up in the art; in political circles one might feel that his sole aim was to secure the adoption of the principles and the election of the candidates that he advocates; to know him in business one instantly recognizes in him an alert, enterprising man who is fully capable of meeting and success- fully solving the complex problems of trade and commerce. All this indicates that he has in large measure that valuable quality known as concentration, enab- ling him to give his undivided attention to the interest in hand and therefore ac- complish substantial results in whatever line he is engaged.
HERMANN PRETZINGER.
Hermann Pretzinger, proprietor of a well appointed drug store in Dayton, was born in Greenville, Ohio, in 1853, but during his infancy was brought by his parents to the city in which he now makes his home. Here he was reared and acquired his education as a public-school student, after which he entered the drug store of Ross & Lindsay in Dayton. In that establishment he acquainted himself with pharmaceutical work, studying at nights and sleeping in the store, where he also partook of his breakfast and supper. His close application, unre- mitting energy and laudable ambition enabled him to make good advancement, and when nineteen years of age he became prescription clerk. For four. years he remained with the firm of Ross & Lindsay, there continuing until 1871, after which he spent five years as a prescription clerk in the drug store of H. D. Car- nells. In January, 1877, he formed a partnership with his brother Rudolph for the establishment and conduct of a drug store and they continued together in business until the death of his brother on the 14th of February, 1909. They developed an extensive business and Mr. Pretzinger is now owner of the store, which is attractive and tasteful in its appointments. None of the accessories or equipments of a modern city drug store are lacking here and his trade is very gratifying.
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In Port Huron, Michigan, Mr. Pretzinger was united in marriage to Miss Clementine N. Stickney, and they have one daughter, Irma S. Mr. Pretzinger affiliates with the Lutheran church, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has never held office or been active in politics but is interested in all those measures and movements which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He is now acting as a trustee of the Miami Valley Hospital and whenever it is pos- sible to put forth effort for the benefit of the community along any line he does it most willingly.
JAMES PERRINE.
James Perrine was born in Middlesex county, New Jersey, in which section of the country his ancestors had lived for many generations. He was of French Huguenot descent, representatives of the name having left Nantes, France, after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes which deprived the people of the religious liberty that had formerly been accorded them. They went to Holland and thence sailed for America in 1665, first settling on Staten Island, while later the family home was established in New Jersey, and the old homestead passed out of possession of representatives of the name only in 1905.
James Perrine spent his early youth in the county of his nativity and in 1812 came to Dayton with his father, John Perrine, who was one of the honored citi- zens of his day and died here at the venerable age of ninety-four years. At the time of their arrival Dayton was a little village, but it had in it the conditions necessary for the building of a great city because of its advantageous location and the fact that it was settled with a most enterprising and progressive class of men.
James, Johnson and Henry Perrine, sons of John Perrine, all became honored business men of Dayton, successful merchants who were esteemed and respected because of their unqualified honesty as well as their progressive spirit. In early life James Perrine accepted a clerkship in the employ of H. G. Phillips and that he demonstrated his worth is evidenced in the fact that after a few years he was admitted to a partnership under the firm name of Phillips & Perrine. Later Mr. Perrine's brothers were admitted to the firm under the style of J. & J. V. Perrine Company. The partnership continued for some time and was then dissolved, James Perrine, however, continuing the business. He made his one of the foremost mercantile establishments in this city, its trade increasing with the growth of Dayton and the settlement of the surrounding county. He was a man of positive character, widely known for his unflinching integrity and unfaltering business honor. His store became a savings bank for hundreds of both town and country people who left their money with him for safe keeping. He became a director of the Second, now the Third, National Bank, and for many years figured very prominently in financial circles, manifesting marked power in managing intricate financial interests. He was also one of the directors and organizers of the Dayton Insurance Company.
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In 1830 Mr. Perrine was united in marriage to Miss Julia Darst, a represen- tative of one of the old families of Dayton, and unto them were born seven chil- dren, of whom two are still living. One daughter, Mary P., married George W. Shaw, of Dayton, and died, leaving three children, George G. Shaw, Mrs. John B. Green and Mrs. Harry Carnell, all of Dayton. Miss Martha Perrine still occu- pies the old homestead on Second street in Dayton, which was erected in 1830 and was one of the finest residences of the city in the early days. Louisa J. be- came the wife of Edward E. Barney, now deceased, and resides in Jamestown, Virgina. She has five children, James Perrine, Julia Henrietta, Martha Perrine, Louise Jane and Agnes.
Throughout the years of his residence in Dayton Mr. Perrine was also deeply and actively interested in the various movements and measures for the city's good, giving to such his earnest and generous support. He became one of the members of the volunteer fire department at its organization when the leading business men of the town banded together to protect the city against destruction by fire, giving their services without compensation whenever thus needed. He was also one of the organizers of the Woodland Cemetery Association and re- mained as a director until his death. He was also one of the first trustees and an active and influential member of the Third Presbyterian church. He passed away in January, 1863, and the city mourned the loss of him who had been character- ized "one of the best men in Dayton." His prominence in business, his value as a citizen and his worth in private life were all indicated by the fact that at the hour of his funeral all business houses of the city were closed in his honor, his fellow townsmen uniting in thus paying their tribute of honor and respect to one who had long been to them the embodiment of all that was upright and commendable in life.
Eight years after the death of Mr. Perrine his wife passed away. Her life was of that quiet, domestic kind which in all of its phases exhibited the true wife, the faithful mother and the exemplary Christian. Her interest in the sick, her readiness at all times to alleviate their suffering, her tender watching and intelligent care will ever be remembered by those who were witnesses of this rare exemplification of Christian duty and of warm sympathy. It would seem that no better tribute could be paid to the memory of this kindly woman than this : that while devoting herself with all earnestness and faithfulness to her home duties as a wife and mother, she was always seeking to give assistance and com- fort to friends who were prostrated by illness.
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